If you’re heading to the Full Throttle Saloon during the rally, be aware you could wind up on TV.
TruTV has returned to Sturgis to film a season of the Full Throttle documentary series, which depicts the craziness in and around the biker bar during rally week.
“We film around the clock, and we follow what goes on during the rally,” said Brian Richardson, co-executive producer for the show. “We film everything from running out of beer to hiring employees to firing employees, whatever comes up.”
A crew of 45 is on location, filming for two weeks.
“We follow everyone and interview everyone from the parking lot attendants to the bartenders to just random people who are inside.”
Richardson said last year the show was a “huge success” and thinks there are a lot of people who will come to Full Throttle this year because they saw the show last year.
Full Throttle owner Michael Ballard said there will be twice the number of episodes this season, and it will air in 90 million homes nationwide.
“It not only brings a lot more to the business, but people get to see what it is like behind the scenes and what it takes to put on something like this,” said Ballard.
The show will air in November and is produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, which also films the “Hell’s Kitchen” cooking show.
“I’ve been in this business for about 20 years, and this is just a whole new slice of America,” Richardson said. “Bikers are really great people.”
He said most people they interview for the show are “really open” to talking to the film crew and everyone signs release forms so that the material can be used in the series.
“We’ve had a very positive reaction this year,” he said. “I know a lot of people who don’t know too much about bikers but I think everyone enjoyed watching the show last year, not just bikers.”
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